72 Hours or Less: Goose Island State Park

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May 3, 2012
: Updated: May 4, 2012 4:24pm

The "Big Tree" near Goose Island State Park is believed to be more than 1,000 years old and has survived drought, disease, fire, hurricanes and Yankee bombardments.

Photo By Pam Howell/For the Express-News

The porch at Fulton Mansion offers a spectacular view of the bay.

Photo By Pam Howell/For the Express-News

Fulton Mansion State Historic Site in Rockport offers a glimpse into the past as lived by cattle barons George and Harriet Fulton, who built the mansion known as Oakhurst in 1877. In its day, it was known as the epitome of Victorian splendor.

Photo By Pam Howell/For the Express-News

The sun sets over Aransas Bay at Goose Island State Park, near Rockport.

Total disasters. That's how my teenage daughter described her two camping experiences.

My husband and I were determined to change that — as long as we could accomplish it in three days on a limited budget and with our two dogs.

What's there: Check out the walking trails around the park and take a stroll by the native plant and butterfly exhibit at one of the park's original buildings, which was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park wraps around Aransas and St. Charles bays with superb views of the water and marshy areas with plenty of opportunity for bird-watching.

Birds and fish are plentiful. Bring your fishing gear or borrow through the park's Loan-a-Tackle program.

Puppy love: Dogs are allowed at Goose Island State Park, 10 miles northeast of Rockport on Texas 35, as long as they are on a 6-foot or shorter leash and aren't left unattended.

High stakes: Setting up a tent in the wind that blows off Aransas Bay calls for extra stakes, heavy-duty ones, and a sturdy mallet. Use the extra stakes to help resecure the neighboring tent when it blows into your campsite.

Long limbs, deep roots: The “Big Tree” is thought to be one of the largest oaks in the nation. With a trunk circumference of more than 35 inches and a crown spread of almost 90 feet, the giant oak has survived droughts, hurricanes, fires and even Yankee bombardments in its life of 1,000-plus years.

Lap of luxury: Just down the road, Fulton Mansion State Historic Site gives a glimpse into the lives of well-to-do Texas cattle barons in the late 1800s. When it was built in 1877, the three-story home was the only one anywhere around to have gas lighting, central heating/cooling and running water. (Pretty impressive when you consider the time period, and when you're sleeping in a tent, it's even more impressive.)

Beachcombers: If you want to hit the beach, there's Rockport Beach Park, a mile-long beach with picnic cabanas, a walking trail, restrooms, a wildlife sanctuary, boat ramps, fishing piers and a playground. At the entrance to the park is also an area for beach-goers and their dogs. The “doggie” beach is a family-friendly place where college-age kids played a laid-back game of horseshoes while a family set up a portable table with full picnic regalia.

Next time: Our next trip to Rockport/Fulton will include a visit to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, which includes a wildlife interpretive center, a 40-foot observation tower and more than 70,000 acres on the Blackjack Peninsula. Also on our list for our next visit to Rockport will be a stay at one of the many quaint cottages or condos by the water. Our tent was great for a couple of nights, but a comfy bed sure would have been nice.

In the end, we did give our teenage daughter a memorable camping experience. “It wasn't a total disaster, and it was kind of fun,” she admitted. “But it was like sleeping in a wind tunnel.” Coming from a teenager, that's high praise.